WHALE ISLAND'S NAME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 258, 15 January 1941, Page 4

WHALE ISLAND'S NAME

Sir, —Visitors to Whakatane district often ask us the reason for place names such as Whale Island, White Island./ Mount Edgecumbe. I understand they were given by Captain Cook when he also named the Bay of Plentj- in 1769. Is'this so? Perhaps you can quote a passage from "Cook's Voyages" for the benefit of thpse interested. Yours etc., INTERESTED. (In answer to our correspondent's, query, we are glad to be able to say that Whale Tsland was indeed named by Captain Cook. Enquiring of the Maoris the native name he learnt (through the ship's Tahitian interpreter, Tupaea) that it was Moto hora, which meant 'Whale Island.' He thereupon decided to perpetuate its Miaori title by spell-* ing it on his official chart as Mowto Hora. With regard to the same navigator again. In his log, he says Ka't after rounding the east cape in hazy weather he noted the island and thought it first to be part of the mainland till he sailed somewhere opposite Ohope. Seeing it then to be an Island he christcned it 'White Island* adding "for as such it appeared to us." It is interesting to note also that Cook enquired the native name for White Island and has entered it as "Koakhali," the actual Maori according' to our modern spelling is which is after all not so remote from Cook's first attempt to write - the new •tongue of the South Sea?. With reference to Mi. Edgecumbe., we have referred this question to a wellknown local authority Mr B. Slad'jen of Tancal ua, who lias undertaken to answer it fu'ty in a separticle. We would therefore ?ef°r our orresT>nnrt<*nt to. a irti«*l«; which will an pen r shortly •3ontrlJ;u : ied by cur informant. Ee?).